NBC picks up family comedy starring 'Will & Grace' actor Sean Hayes

Jack's back!

Good news for "Will & Grace" fans, as Sean Hayes is set to make his return to the network as the star of a new comedy series. Among the plethora of pilots and new series given the go ahead at the four major networks Tuesday, the Emmy winner's new project has to be ranked somewhere in the cream of the crop.

NBC has been eager to bring Hayes back into the fold for some time. "Sean is a friend, and I think it's time for him to star in a comedy again," NBC head Bob Greenblatt said at last year's Television Critics Association panel, where he announced initial plans to develop a half-hour project for the actor to headline.

The still-untitled comedy comes from the creator of ABC's much-loved, witty, absurdist comedy "Better Off Ted," Victor Fresco, who has written the pilot and will serve as executive producer with Hayes. The multi-camera sitcom revolves around a busy single father juggling a hectic work life with an unpredictable and demanding new boss, along with a sudden family life when his fourteen year old daughter decides to move in.

Though his on-camera appearances have been somewhat limited since "Will & Grace" left the airwaves, Hayes has kept plenty busy behind the camera serving as producer on series "Grimm," "Hot In Cleveland," "Soul Man," and "Hollywood Game Night," as well as guest-roles on NBC's "Smash" and "Up All Night." His comic timing plus the offbeat humor characteristic of Fresco adds up to a promising new addition to the NBC comedy line-up.